Tag: wild card

NFL’s wild-card drama scores huge ratings

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The NFL’s blockbuster regular season rolled straight into wild-card weekend, and the audiences followed.

Fox opened Saturday with the Rams’ 34-31 victory over the Panthers drawing 28 million viewers, up 7% over last year in the same time slot for the biggest Saturday afternoon wild-card audience on any network since 2011, Front Office Sports reported.

Prime Video then shattered streaming records as the Bears’ 31-27 win over the Packers averaged 31.6 million, which is Amazon’s largest NFL audience by far and the most-watched exclusively streamed game in league history, topping Netflix’s late-afternoon Christmas matchup (27.5 million). The figure was 43% higher than last year’s streaming wild-card game on Amazon.

Sunday kept the surge going. CBS’s early window featuring the Bills’ 27-24 win over the Jaguars delivered 32.7 million viewers, the best early Sunday wild-card number on record for any network.

Fox’s late game, the 49ers’ 23-19 victory over the defending champion Eagles, led the entire weekend at 41 million for Fox’s biggest wild-card audience since 2015. It marked a 14% jump over the comparable slot a year ago.

NBC’s primetime game, with the Patriots ousting the Chargers 16-3, averaged 28.9 million, narrowly behind last year’s comparable game but still the most-watched Sunday night broadcast of any kind since last February’s Super Bowl.

ESPN’s numbers for the Texans’ 30-6 win over the Steelers on Monday night will arrive on Wednesday.

The early playoff spike aligns with the league’s regular-season average of 18.7 million viewers per game, the second highest since 1989, highlighting how every rights holder experienced growth this year, from major broadcasters to streamers.

–Field Level Media

NFL Playoffs: Texans-Steelers Preview, Props, Prediction

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The first round of the NFL postseason concludes with what should be a defensive slugfest with the Houston Texans visiting the Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday night.

The Steelers (10-7) were the last team into the postseason when they survived a missed field goal by Baltimore on the final play of the regular season. The Texans (12-5) had already earned a wild-card spot thanks to their nine-game winning streak, and were installed as one of four wild-card road favorites. Two of the first three have won thus far, the Los Angeles Rams and Buffalo, while Green Bay suffered a late collapse at Chicago.

ODDS AND TRENDS
Houston is a consensus 2.5-point favorite. That includes at BetRivers, where the Texans have been backed by 59% of the spread-line money while their -159 moneyline has drawn 58% of the money.

The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game in nearly nine years, so it comes as little surprise that they have failed to cover the spread in each of their past six postseason games.

Oddsmakers are expecting a low-scoring game, with the 38.0 total points line seeing the Under supported by 52% of the money and 54% of the total bets. Each of Houston’s past four road games have hit the Under.

INSIDE EDGE
Houston’s top-ranked defense leads the league in forcing three-and-out on 30.1% of opponents’ possessions this season. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s offense ranks fourth-worst in going three-and-out on 24.9% of its possessions, according to Inside Edge’s Remarkable engine.

KEY STAT
Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was lowest among 27 qualified quarterbacks this season in targeting receivers at an average depth of 4.9 yards on first down. However, he has also gone seven complete games since throwing his last interception at the Los Angeles Chargers on Nov. 9.

PROP PICKS
–Texans WR Nico Collins 50+ Receiving Yards (-287 at DraftKings): Collins had only three 100-yard receiving games during the regular season, but did have at least 55 in each of his past five — leading to this being the most popular prop at the book. Better potential payouts are available for 60+ yards (-179), 70+ (-115), 80+ (+124), 90+ (+180) and 100+ (+259).

–Steelers WR DK Metcalf Anytime TD (+215 at BetRivers): It was clear how much the Steelers’ passing game missed Metcalf during his two-game suspension. His big frame will be an important target for Rodgers in the red zone, although Metcalf does have just one touchdown catch over his past eight games.

“DK is the No. 1 receiver, so it’s great having DK back,” Rodgers said. “He’s real thankful to be back, I know. And we’re all thankful to have him back as well.”

THE NEWS
The Steelers have dropped six consecutive playoff games since defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round on Jan. 15, 2017.

Pittsburgh lost to the New England Patriots in the AFC Championship Game seven days later and since has followed up with five straight first-game setbacks.

While the Texans have a standout quarterback in C.J. Stroud, it is the other side of the ball led by defensive ends Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter that sets the tone.

Houston allowed a league-low 277.2 yards per game this season and ranked second in points allowed at 17.4 per game. The Texans also ranked second with a plus-17 takeaway margin.

Hunter finished third in the NFL with 15 sacks and Anderson tied for eighth with 12. Star Derek Stingley Jr., fellow cornerback Kamari Lassiter and safeties Jalen Pitre and Calen Bullock all had four interceptions.

“They’ve just got a kick-butt unit,” Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin said. “They do. They’ve got a top-flight edge tandem in Hunter and Anderson. They’ve got a top-flight corner tandem on the outside, and so they rush very well. They cover very well. They’re not trying to split the atom schematically. They don’t have to when you have corners and edge rushers like that.”

Stroud is playing in the playoffs for the third straight season and brings a 2-2 postseason mark into the contest.

During the regular season, the 24-year-old passed for 3,041 yards and 19 touchdowns against eight interceptions despite missing three games due to a concussion.

Meanwhile, Rodgers has played well for the Steelers and had 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 16 games. He hasn’t been picked off during his last seven outings.

“I’m a big fan of Aaron. I love what he does,” Stroud said. “His mechanics are through the roof. … He’s a heck of a player and I respect him and he’s doing it at a high level in Year 21 (of his career).”

Rodgers has an 11-10 postseason record but his last victory came in the 2020 season’s playoffs for the Green Bay Packers.

The Steelers hope to get a boost from receiver DK Metcalf (team-best 850 receiving yards, six TDs), who is back after a two-game suspension due to an incident with a fan in Detroit.

THEY SAID IT
–“It’s going to be old-school football and it’s going to be a physical game. If you like football, you should be excited about it, and I’m ready for it.” — Texans coach DeMeco Ryans

–“It’s win or go home at this point. We obviously want to win, but we just got to go out and execute our job and take it one play at a time.” — Steelers left tackle Dylan Cook

INJURY REPORT
Steelers star outside linebacker T.J. Watt had a week full of smooth practices and said his body is feeling good. Watt recorded an interception against the Ravens in his return from a three-game absence due to a partially collapsed lung.

On Sunday morning, Pittsburgh downgraded defensive tackle Isaiahh Loudermilk (ankle) to out versus the Texans. He initially was listed as questionable after logging limited practice sessions on both Friday and Saturday.

For Houston, backup quarterback Davis Mills joined the team in Pittsburgh after being listed as questionable. Mills and his wife welcomed their first child earlier this week and formally announced the birth of their son on Saturday.

Mills, 27, went 3-0 as a starter this season when Stroud was sidelined with a concussion. Rookie Graham Mertz, a sixth-round choice, is Houston’s third-string quarterback.

Also, Lassiter (ankle/knee) was a full practice participant on Saturday and is good to go. Running back Jawhar Jordan (ankle) was ruled out Saturday and cornerback Ajani Carter (hamstring) was ruled out Sunday. Safety Jaylen Reed (forearm) is questionable.

PREDICTION
It will be cold with game-time temperatures expected to be in the mid-30s, but clear. Expect this to be a physical matchup dictated by field position and finishing drives with touchdowns. Ultimately, the Texans’ excellent pass rush matches up exactly where the Steelers’ biggest concern is. Rodgers has been sacked multiple times in four consecutive games and will be hard-pressed to make the occasional play with his legs as he did in a tight win against Baltimore last week. –Texans 20, Steelers 16

–Field Level Media

Bears come back from 15 down in 4th to stun Packers in wild card

Posted on | by Field Level Media

CHICAGO — Caleb Williams hit DJ Moore with a 25-yard touchdown pass with 1:43 left in the fourth quarter as the Chicago Bears overcame a 15-point, fourth-quarter deficit for an improbable 31-27 victory over the visiting Green Bay Packers in an NFC wild-card game between NFC North division rivals Saturday night.

Chicago, which trailed 21-6 entering the final quarter, pulled within 27-24 with 4:18 remaining on Williams’ 8-yard touchdown pass to Olamide Zaccheaus and two-point conversion toss to Colston Loveland.

Green Bay answered with an eight-play, 43-yard drive but Brandon McManus’ 44-yard field-goal attempt was wide right.

The Bears responded with a 66-yard drive capped by Williams’ go-ahead toss to Moore, who was open in the end zone to finish a 25-point fourth quarter.

Green Bay then drove to the Chicago 23 with 32 seconds left, but Green Bay had to take a 10-second runoff when a lineman went down injured with the team out of timeouts. Packers quarterback Jordan Love threw an incomplete pass and the Packers were then called for a false start and another incomplete pass followed. Love’s pass on the final play was incomplete in the end zone.

Second-seeded Chicago (12-6), which won the North despite ending the regular season with two losses, picked up its first playoff win since January 2011 and will host a divisional playoff game next weekend.

Seventh-seeded Green Bay (9-8-1) lost its final five games.

It was the third meeting in six games between the division rivals. The Packers won the first game at home 28-21 in early December. They did not win another game.

The Bears averted the regular-season sweep two weeks later with a 22-16 victory in overtime, overcoming a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes of regulation.

On Saturday, Williams completed 24 of 48 passes for 361 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. D’Andre Swift had a team-high 54 yards rushing on 13 carries with a touchdown.

Love completed 24 of 46 passes for 323 yards with four touchdowns without a pick.

Green Bay dominated the first half en route to a 21-3 lead at the break. But the Packers punted on their first four possessions of the second half as the Bears rallied within 21-16 on Swift’s 6-yard scoring run that capped a 66-yard drive with 10:08 remaining.

Green Bay answered when Matthew Golden turned a short swing pass into a 23-yard touchdown, but McManus missed the extra point for a 27-16 lead with 6:36 left.

Chicago pulled within 21-9 to open the second half on field goals of 34 and 51 yards by Cairo Santos.

Love had touchdown passes on each of Green Bay’s first three possessions for the 21-3 halftime lead.

Love hit Christian Watson with a 7-yard touchdown pass with 2:06 left in the first quarter to put Green Bay in front 7-3.

Love’s 18-yard scoring toss to Jayden Reed extended the lead to 14-3 midway through the second quarter.

Love’s 1-yard touchdown toss to Romeo Doubs made it 21-3 with 1:56 left in the half.

Chicago drove to the Green Bay 9 on the opening possession of the game before settling for Santos’ 27-yard field goal.

–Jim Hoehn, Field Level Media

NFL Playoff Capsules

Posted on | by Field Level Media

NFL Playoff Capsules

Los Angeles Rams (12-5) at Carolina Panthers (8-9)
Saturday, 4:30 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Rams -10.5, Total 45.5
Series Rewind: The Panthers have won seven of the past 10 meetings with the most important being the 31-28 home triumph over the Rams in Week 13. Mike Jackson had a pick-six for Carolina and Bryce Young’s third touchdown pass was the decisive one in the fourth quarter.

Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford could be about to win the NFL MVP award but he had some rough moments during the earlier visit to Charlotte when he was intercepted twice while passing for 243 yards and two touchdowns. Stafford was intercepted just eight times in the regular season while posting league-leading totals of 4,707 yards and 46 TDs. It doesn’t hurt to have Puka Nacua on your side and he grabbed a league-best 129 receptions for 1,715 yards (second in the NFL) and 10 scores. Davante Adams (hamstring) will be back after a three-game absence. The Panthers are playing in just their second playoff game since losing to the Denver Broncos in the 2015 season Super Bowl. They lost the most recent appearance to the New Orleans Saints in the wild-card round after the 2017 regular season. Young turned the corner this season, his third in the NFL, with 3,011 yards and 23 touchdowns against 11 interceptions. That said, he only topped 200 yards in four of his 16 starts so Carolina needs to make sure this contest remains low scoring. Cornerbacks Jaycee Horn (five picks) and Jackson (four) will need to be in top form against Nacua and Adams. In fact, Nacua had just six grabs for 72 yards in November. Rams star linebacker Byron Young (12 sacks this season) will look to cause some trouble in the Carolina backfield.

Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) at Chicago Bears (11-6)
Saturday, 8 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Packers -1.5, Total 44.5
Series Rewind: It’s only the third postseason clash in the NFL’s oldest rivalry, all in Chicago. The Bears won 33-14 in a divisional playoff on Dec. 14, 1941, and the Packers won 21-14 in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 23, 2011.

Green Bay is 30-7 against Chicago since the start of the 2008 season, including the playoffs. The NFC North rivals split their games this season, with the Packers winning 28-21 at Lambeau Field in Week 14 and the Bears winning 22-16 in overtime at Soldier Field two weeks later. Green Bay is the No. 7 seed for the third straight year, while Chicago is looking for its first playoff win since Jan. 16, 2011. The Packers are riding a four-game losing streak but quarterback Jordan Love is ready to return from a concussion sustained in the Week 16 loss at Chicago. He doesn’t exactly “own” the Bears a la Aaron Rodgers, but he does have a 9-2 TD-INT ratio in six meetings (4-2 record). Packers RB Josh Jacobs posted 1,211 scrimmage yards and 14 TDs. The Bears led the NFL with 33 takeaways this season. Caleb Williams fell short of 4K but set a Chicago record with 3,942 passing yards, and D’Andre Swift tallied a career-best 1,386 scrimmage yards with 10 TDs. Bears WR Rome Odunze (foot) is healthy again after missing the last five games, including both meetings with Green Bay.

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Buffalo Bills (12-5) at Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Bills -1.5, Total 51.5
Series Rewind: The all-time series is tied 10-10. Buffalo smashed the Jaguars 47-10 the last time they played in 2024, but Jacksonville has won both times they’ve faced off in the playoffs, a 10-3 win in the 2017 season and a 30-27 win in 1996, both in the wild-card round.

Jacksonville enters on an eight-game win streak but is a home underdog against Buffalo. Jaguars coach Liam Coen already had made NFL history as the first coach to inherit a team that won four or fewer games and lead them to 12 or more wins in his debut season. Now he’s one of two men (along with Chicago’s Ben Johnson) trying to become the first rookie head coach since George Seifert in 1989 to win a Super Bowl. Bills QB Josh Allen seems to have a somewhat clearer playoff path with no Chiefs, Ravens or Bengals involved this year. However, it’s likely his entire run will be on the road and he enters this week 0-2 in road playoff games. Buffalo hasn’t won a road playoff game since the 1992 season, losing eight straight. He’ll have help from RB James Cook III, who won the rushing title by 26 yards with 1,621 this season. Jaguars QB Trevor Lawrence played the best football of his career down the stretch. After the former No. 1 pick threw 14 touchdowns to 11 interceptions in his first 11 games of the season, Lawrence threw 15 TDs and one pick over the final six contests. Adding a career-high nine rushing touchdowns, Lawrence set the franchise record with 38 total touchdowns in his first season in Coen’s offense. Jacksonville’s defense also broke the franchise record with 22 interceptions.

San Francisco 49ers (12-5) at Philadelphia Eagles (11-6)
Sunday, 4:30 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Eagles -4.5, Total 44.5
Series Rewind: San Francisco won handily 42-19 in its last trip to Philadelphia in Week 13 in 2023, about 11 months after getting blown out 31-7 there by the Eagles in the NFC Championship Game on Jan. 29, 2023.

The defending Super Bowl champion Eagles rested most of their starters in Week 18 and settled for the No. 3 seed, while the 49ers dropped to the sixth seed after losing a battle with Seattle for the coveted No. 1 slot. This is the fifth straight playoff appearance for Philadelphia under fifth-year coach Nick Sirianni, whose teams alternated wild-card losses with Super Bowl runs in their first four postseasons under his watch. It’s the fifth playoff trip in the past seven seasons for the 49ers under Kyle Shanahan, which includes a couple of Super Bowl setbacks. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is 5-0 at home in the playoffs and facing a 49ers squad that is 7-2 on the road this season. Hurts can attack San Francisco’s shaky pass defense with 1,000-yard receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert (11 touchdowns). Niners star Christian McCaffrey was second in the NFL with 2,126 scrimmage yards but faces a Philly front anchored by Pro Bowl DT Jalen Carter. Philadelphia’s All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson (foot) hopes to play for the first time since Week 11. San Francisco All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams (hamstring) and wideout Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle) are questionable.

Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at New England Patriots (14-3)
Sunday, 8 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Patriots -3.5, Total 46.5
Series Rewind: New England leads the all-time series 27-17-2 and has won each of the three times they’ve faced off in the NFL playoffs (2007, 2008, 2019). But Los Angeles beat the Patriots in 2023 and 2024 by a combined score of 46-7.

Patriots MVP candidate Drake Maye is set to make his playoff debut after a stellar second season in which he led the league with a 72.0 completion percentage along with 4,394 yards and 31 TDs to eight picks. He led an offense which finished second in scoring (28.8 points per game) and third in total offense (379.4 yards). But he was also sacked 47 times, fourth-most of any NFL QB, and will be facing a Chargers defense which ranked 10th in the league in sacks (45). Chargers QB Justin Herbert has actually been sacked even more (54 times, third in the NFL) behind a ramshackle line missing two tackles. Herbert is looking for some playoff redemption after his first two postseason games did not go according to plan. Los Angeles blew a 27-0 lead in a 2022 wild-card game at Jacksonville, and he threw a career-high four picks in a 32-12 wild-card game last season at Houston. Herbert (left hand) has practiced fully this week after sitting out the regular-season finale with minimal stakes. Patriots receiver Stefon Diggs (1,013 receiving yards) and rookie RB Tre’Veyon Henderson (911 yards, nine touchdowns) have boosted Maye, who could be down two starting offensive linemen this week with left guard Jared Wilson (concussion) and center Garrett Bradbury (illness) missing practice or limited.

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Houston Texans (12-5) at Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
Monday, 8:15 p.m. ET
FanDuel odds: Texans -3, Total 38.5
Series Rewind: Houston pounded Pittsburgh 30-6 in 2023 to end a three-game skid in the series. That was C.J. Stroud’s rookie season and he shined by passing for 306 yards and two TDs. This is their first postseason meeting.

The Steelers haven’t won a playoff game in nine years and now the NFL’s best defense stands in the way and threatens to impose another unhappy ending. Aaron Rodgers (11-10 as a postseason starter) will be asked to solve the defensive unit of the Texans and end the dubious streak that has seen Pittsburgh drop six consecutive playoff games since defeating the Kansas City Chiefs in the divisional round on Jan. 15, 2017. Rodgers had 3,322 yards and 24 touchdowns against seven interceptions in 16 games. He hasn’t been picked in his last seven outings. Protecting the ball is key against Houston, which ranks second in the NFL with a plus-17 takeaway margin. The Texans allowed a league-low 277.2 yards per game and ranked second in points allowed at 17.4 per game. Danielle Hunter finished third in the NFL with 15 sacks and Will Anderson Jr. tied for eighth with 12. Stroud is playing in the playoffs for the third straight season and has a 2-2 postseason mark. During the regular season, he passed for 3,041 yards and 19 touchdowns against eight interceptions despite missing three games due to a concussion. The Steelers get DK Metcalf (team-best 850 receiving yards, six TDs) back from a two-game suspension. Also, star linebacker T.J. Watt should feel a bit more spry in his second game since lung surgery.

–Field Level Media

Los Angeles Rams safety Quentin Lake (37) tackles Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson (18) during their playoff game at State Farm Stadium on Jan. 13, 2025, in Glendale.

Lions pull proposal to modify playoff seeding

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The Detroit Lions withdrew their proposal to alter playoff seeding before a vote was taken by owners in Minneapolis on Wednesday.

The proposal called for seeding the playoff field based on record, thus eliminating the automatic home game for division winners regardless of regular-season record.

NFL owners were scheduled to vote on the proposal Wednesday. Instead, the team pulled the pitch from the table due to a lack of support, NFL Network reported, speculating the idea could be revisited should the league expand to an 18-game schedule.

Under the current format, four division winners in each conference are guaranteed a home playoff game. Wild-card entrants travel to play the division champions, which can yield a matchup between a home team with a record worse than the wild-card team.

Last season, for example, the 14-3 Vikings were forced to travel west to meet the 10-7 Rams in the wild-card round. Minnesota finished behind the Detroit Lions (15-2) in the NFC North, making the Vikings a wild card. Los Angeles won the NFC West. The Rams prevailed to advance.

In the postseason followed the 2023 season, the Eagles (11-6) finished second on the NFC East and as a wild card went on the road to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9-8) in the opening round.

The Lions had proposed only the division winner with the best record in each conference would play at home. The remaining playoff teams would be seeded by record with no regard to division standing.

–Field Level Media

Dec 21, 2024; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) throws from the pocket during the first half against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-Imagn Images

NFL wild-card schedule includes Steelers-Ravens showdown

Posted on | by Field Level Media

The NFL finalized its schedule for the wild-card round of the playoffs Sunday evening after results from the late-afternoon window put most of the final puzzle pieces into place.

The Los Angeles Chargers, by defeating the Las Vegas Raiders 34-20, finished the season 11-6 and secured the No. 5 seed in the AFC over the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Chargers’ AFC West foes from Denver took care of business against a resting Chiefs team, winning 38-0 to lock up the conference’s seventh and final bid.

The Steelers, who lost four straight games to end the regular season, must face the rival Baltimore Ravens for a third time in the AFC’s No. 3 vs. No. 6 game. The teams split their season series but the Ravens won the AFC North by two games.

On the NFC side, the Los Angeles Rams lost 30-25 to the Seattle Seahawks, pushing them behind the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the pecking order. Tampa Bay, which clinched the NFC South earlier in the day by beating the Saints 27-19, took over the No. 3 seed and the Rams settled for No. 4.

The following is the schedule for the first round of the NFL postseason. The only determination left to make will be the No. 5 seed in the NFC. That will go to the loser of the Minnesota Vikings-Detroit Lions game on “Sunday Night Football” as the winner claims the NFC North crown, the top seed and the first-round bye.

Saturday, Jan. 11

No. 5 Los Angeles Chargers (11-6) at No. 4 Houston Texans (10-7), 4:30 p.m. ET, CBS

No. 6 Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7) at No. 3 Baltimore Ravens (12-5), 8 p.m. ET, Amazon Prime Video

Sunday, Jan. 12

No. 7 Denver Broncos (10-7) at No. 2 Buffalo Bills (13-4), 1 p.m. ET, CBS

No. 7 Green Bay Packers (11-6) at No. 2 Philadelphia Eagles (14-3), 4:30 p.m. ET, FOX

No. 6 Washington Commanders (12-5) at No. 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7), 8 p.m. ET, NBC

Monday, Jan. 13

No. 5 Minnesota Vikings OR Detroit Lions at No. 4 Los Angeles Rams (10-7), 8 p.m. ET, ESPN/ABC

–Field Level Media

Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (4) participates in warmups prior to the game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Perfect at home, Cowboys cite comfort of playoff spot against Packers

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Quarterback Dak Prescott and the NFL’s highest-scoring offense enter the playoffs with a confidence that can only be found at home.

The Cowboys host the Green Bay Packers in a wild-card matchup Sunday afternoon at AT&T Stadium, where Dallas had a perfect 8-0 record during the regular season.

Dallas averaged a league-high 29.9 points per game, posted a 12-5 record and won the NFC East for the second time in three years.

Prescott threw 36 touchdown passes, which led the NFL. CeeDee Lamb caught a league-high 135 passes for 1,749 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns.

The statistics are impressive, but the Cowboys want something bigger: playoff success.

“Obviously, there’s going to be a sense of urgency because there’s no tomorrow, because it’s win-or-go-home every single week,” Cowboys wideout Brandin Cooks said. “At the end of the day, we’re looking at a great team (in the Packers) that has been playing at a high level to finish this season.

“As far as pressure (goes), no, because we know what’s in front of us. It’s playoff ball. That’s the best of everyone’s ball. We’ve just got to show up and continue to be who we are without putting more on ourselves than we need to. … We’ve just got to take care of business.”

Green Bay travels to Texas in an underdog role, but not without an air of confidence. The Packers, who have one of the NFL’s youngest rosters, won their last three games and six of their final eight with multiple strong showings from quarterback Jordan Love as running back Aaron Jones finally looked healthy.

Love threw 32 touchdown passes, which trailed only Prescott. He took control in his final eight starts as he threw for 18 touchdowns with only one interception.

“Everybody looks to him as a leader,” said guard Jon Runyan of Love’s development. “He’s got complete control of this offense, and what he does. We trust him, and you’re able to see it on the field.

Rookie wideout Jayden Reed led the team with 912 yards from scrimmage (793 receiving, 119 rushing) and 10 touchdowns (eight receiving, two rushing). Jones added 889 yards from scrimmage (656 rushing, 233 receiving) and three touchdowns (two rushing, one receiving).

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said his team is playing as if it has nothing to lose.

“I think for us it’s just the opportunity to be in the dance and have a great week of preparation and put our best foot forward,” LaFleur said. “I think we’ve been going through this the last few weeks. We knew what was at stake. I mean, the last three weeks basically have been playoff games for us. So, really, it’s the next opportunity.”

On the opposite sideline, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy will have a chance to make history against his former team. McCarthy won a Super Bowl as the Packers coach during the 2010 season, and he can become the first person to win a playoff game against a team with which he won the Super Bowl as head coach.

McCarthy deflected questions about his tenure in Green Bay and what the game meant to him.

“This game’s about our commitment,” he said. “It doesn’t matter who we’re playing.”

Both teams had one injured player sit out the first practice of the week. Packers running back A.J. Dillon was sidelined by thumb and neck injuries, and Cowboys cornerback Stephon Gilmore sat out because of a shoulder injury. Gilmore said he’s confident he’ll be on the field Sunday.

The teams’ most recent matchup was Nov. 13, 2022, when Green Bay held on for a 31-28 win. This is their first playoff meeting since Jan. 15, 2017, when Green Bay won 34-31 in Dallas.

–Field Level Media

Jan 16, 2023; Tampa, Florida, USA; Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle Osa Odighizuwa (97) puts pressure on Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady (12) in the first half during the wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-USA TODAY Sports

Dak Prescott, Cowboys rout Buccaneers to end road playoff woes

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Dak Prescott passed for four touchdowns and rushed for another to lead the Dallas Cowboys to a dominating 31-14 victory over the host Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday night in the NFC wild-card round.

Prescott passed for 305 yards while guiding the fifth-seeded Cowboys to their first playoff road victory since prevailing 30-20 over the San Francisco 49ers on Jan. 17, 1993 at Candlestick Park. Dallas broke an eight-game skid in that situation.

Ironically, the Cowboys will visit the second-seeded 49ers on Sunday in the divisional round.

Dalton Schultz caught seven passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns while Michael Gallup and CeeDee Lamb also had scoring receptions for the Cowboys. Tony Pollard rushed for 77 yards on 15 carries.

Tom Brady was 35-of-66 passing for 351 yards, two touchdowns and one interception for the fourth-seeded Buccaneers. Brady hasn’t yet committed to returning to Tampa Bay, playing for another team next season or retiring.

Julio Jones and Cameron Brate caught touchdown passes and Chris Godwin had 10 receptions for 85 yards for the Buccaneers.

Cowboys kicker Brett Maher set an NFL postseason record by missing four extra-point attempts. Maher missed three to the right and one to the left.

Dallas didn’t record a first down on either of its first two possessions but traveled 80 yards on seven plays during its third time with the ball. The Cowboys capped it when Prescott threw a 22-yard scoring pass to Schultz with 6:28 left in the opening quarter.

Tampa Bay had a chance to tie the score but Brady was intercepted in the end zone by Jayron Kearse on the second play of the second quarter.

Dallas responded with a 15-play, 80-yard drive that chewed 8:38 off the clock. Prescott scored the touchdown while cruising to the left on a 1-yard run.

The Cowboys delivered an 11-play, 91-yard excursion later in the quarter. This time, Prescott hit Schultz on an 11-yard throw to make it 18-0 with 27 seconds left in the half.

Dallas continued its domination with another long drive in the third quarter. The Cowboys meandered 86 yards on eight plays with Prescott hitting Gallup on a 2-yard score. Maher’s fourth miss left the Dallas lead at 24.

Tampa Bay got on the board when Brady hit Jones with a 30-yard touchdown pass on the final play of the third quarter. The two-point conversion failed.

Due to Maher’s kicking problems, Cowboys coach Mike McCarthy waved the kicking unit off on fourth-and-4 in the fourth quarter. Instead, Dallas went for it and Prescott hit a wide-open Lamb for an 18-yard score with 10:13 remaining.

Maher entered and kicked an extra point right down the middle.

–Field Level Media

Jan 10, 2021; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Tennessee Titans linebacker David Long Jr., (51) and cornerback Desmond King II (33) stop Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (8) during the Tennessee Titans game against the Baltimore Ravens. Mandatory Credit: George Walker/The Tennessean via USA TODAY Sports

Lamar Jackson rushes Ravens past Titans

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Lamar Jackson rushed for a touchdown en route to recording his first NFL playoff win in the Baltimore Ravens’ 20-13 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday in Nashville, Tenn.

Jackson completed 17 of 24 passes for 179 yards and rushed 16 times for 136 yards, including a 48-yard score with 2:32 left in the second quarter. His performance helped fifth-seeded Baltimore outgain fourth-seeded Tennessee, 401-209.

The victory propels the Ravens into the AFC semifinals next weekend, when they’ll visit either the top-seeded Kansas City Chiefs or second-seeded Buffalo Bills. That will depend on the result of Sunday night’s matchup between the sixth-seeded Cleveland Browns and third-seeded Pittsburgh Steelers.

The Titans failed to build on a 10-0 first quarter lead as their high-powered offense couldn’t crank up the running game. NFL rushing leader Derrick Henry, who authored the eighth 2,000-yard rushing season in league history, was held to 40 yards on 18 carries by a defense that used run blitzes liberally.

Tennessee initiated scoring with 5:39 left in the first quarter on Ryan Tannehill’s 10-yard pass to A.J. Brown. It upped the lead to 10-0 just under four minutes later, turning Malcolm Butler’s interception of Jackson into Stephen Gostkowski’s 45-yard field goal.

Baltimore got on the board with 10:02 remaining in the first half on Justin Tucker’s 33-yard field goal, then tied the score on Jackson’s electrifying third down touchdown scamper.

Rookie J.K. Dobbins gave the Ravens the lead for good on a 4-yard scoring run with 9:01 left in the third quarter, finishing off a 77-yard drive.

Gostkowski pulled the Titans within 17-13 by nailing a 25-yard field goal to start the fourth quarter, but Tucker increased the lead to seven on a 51-yard boot with 4:23 remaining.

Tennessee’s last chance to tie the game ended when Tannehill was intercepted by Marcus Peters on the first play after the two-minute warning.

Tannehill finished the game 18 of 26 for 165 yards. The Titans managed only 83 total yards after the first quarter.

–Field Level Media

Jan 9, 2021; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Buffalo Bills wide receiver Cole Beasley (11) runs the ball against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half in the AFC Wild Card game at Bills Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports

Bills end postseason skid with wild-card win over Colts

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Josh Allen passed for 324 yards and two touchdowns and ran for another and the Buffalo Bills recorded their first playoff victory since 1995 by notching a 27-24 win over the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday in an AFC wild-card game at Orchard Park, N.Y.

Stefon Diggs caught six passes for 128 yards and a touchdown, Dawson Knox also had a scoring reception and Tyler Bass kicked two field goals as second-seeded Buffalo snapped a six-game postseason skid. The Bills’ opponent in the divisional round hasn’t yet been determined.

Allen completed 26 of 35 passes and added 54 yards on 11 carries for Buffalo, which has won seven consecutive games.

Philip Rivers completed 27 of 46 passes for 309 yards and two touchdowns for the seventh-seeded Colts. Jonathan Taylor rushed for 78 yards and a score on 21 carries while Jack Doyle and Zach Pascal caught scoring passes.

The Colts took possession with 2:30 left for a final gasp and Rivers later hit a sliding Pascal for 17 yards on fourth down to the Bills’ 46-yard line. Indianapolis couldn’t move any closer and Rivers’ final-second Hail Mary pass was broken up by Buffalo’s Micah Hyde.

The late defensive stand allowed the Bills to leave the field victorious in the postseason for the first time since a club led by Hall of Famers Jim Kelly and Thurman Thomas engineered a 37-22 win over the Miami Dolphins in a wild-card matchup on Dec. 30, 1995.

Buffalo held a 24-10 lead after Allen connected with Diggs on a 35-yard scoring play with 14:10 left in the contest. The Colts answered with Rivers’ 9-yard touchdown throw to Pascal, but an ensuing two-point run by Taylor failed and left Indianapolis trailing 24-16 with 11:32 left.

Bass boomed a 54-yard field goal through the uprights to make it an 11-point margin with 8:08 remaining. But the Colts quickly moved 76 yards on five plays with Rivers hitting Doyle on a 27-yard scoring pass and on the ensuing two-point conversion to move within 27-24 with 6:13 left.

Indianapolis outgained the Bills 472-397.

Buffalo led 14-10 at halftime after a questionable Indianapolis decision to pass on a field goal.

The Colts were leading 10-7 and had first-and-goal on the Bills’ 4-yard line but came up empty on four straight plays, including an incomplete fourth-down pass from Rivers to Michael Pittman Jr.

The Bills took over with 1:46 remaining and moved 96 yards on 10 plays. Allen capped the drive with a 5-yard keeper with 14 seconds left to give Buffalo the four-point halftime lead.

Buffalo took a 17-10 lead when Bass booted a 46-yard field goal with 11:10 left in the third quarter. Indianapolis attempted to counter but Rodrigo Blankenship missed a 33-yard field-goal attempt that clanked off the right upright.

Earlier, the Bills held a 7-3 lead on Allen’s 3-yard scoring pass to Knox with 1:49 left. Taylor scored from the 1 to give Indianapolis a 10-7 edge with 8:07 left in the half.

–Field Level Media